Interpersonal Networks and Political Behavior

Does the Internet Enhance the Capacity of Community Associations?

“…If cliques of homophilous members form, for example, within-clique communications may increase the apparent density of communications for the group as a whole, but reduce valuable contacts and willingness to compromise between dissimilar members (Huckfeldt and Sprague 1987). These contingencies are important in the study of voluntary associations because a central argument concerning the importance of engagement in civil society is the beneficial effect of exposure to people with different backgrounds, interests, and goals (Lipset 1981;Mutz 2002;Weatherford 1982). Moreover, if it can be shown that communication technology facilitates certain kinds of communication and discourages others, associations can choose available technologies that enhance their ability to work together productively.…”

Profile:Candidates’ commercials and the law: The public perception

“…Common sense would tell us that they must, given the rise in the number and frequency of political television commercials in an election year. The issue of reliance on the mass media for political information is a much debated topic, ranging from discussions of mere exposure versus reliance (e.g., Chaffee & Schleuder, 1986) and reliance on newspapers over television for political information (e.g., Weaver & Buddenbaum, 1980), to the importance of interpersonal channels in political information (e.g., Weatherford, 1982) and measurement issues in assessing reliance (e.g., Berkowitz & Pritchard, 1989). Kaid (1981) has shown that the public does learn from political commercials, and that learning is "most likely to occur where voter information needs are the greatest, including situations involving lesser political sophistication and/or greater difficulty in deciding on candidates" (p. 340).…”

Analyser la contribution d’un dispositif public à la socialisation politique des jeunes

“…Cependant, tout comme pour les activités, les analyses invitent à demeurer prudent. Si la discussion est considérée comme constitutive du lien politique et comme une contribution à la politisation, la réalité des interactions sociales et des contextes d'énonciation, qu'il s'agisse de la sociabilité volontaire ou suscitée, peut aussi en orienter les effets (Weatherford, 1982 ;Huckfeldt, 1984 ;Huckfeldt, Plutzer et Sprague, 1993 ;Talpin, 2006). La discussion peut par exemple être perçue comme une pratique sociale risquée pouvant déboucher sur des niveaux et des formes d'implications individuelles diverses, les uns souhaitant faire part de leur 26.…”